
Adam Sinclair
Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week.
Adam spent several years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.
Be sure to tune in for his sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
Contact Adam: Email
Lamborghini Joining IMSA GTP Class in 2024 with LMDh Prototype
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2023 Porsche Rennsport Seven Date and Location Are Revealed
The next Porsche Rennsport Reunion will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, from September 28 to October 1 in 2023. This will be the seventh running of the Rennsport Reunion and marks the fourth time that the iconic California race circuit is the stage for a celebration of the motorsports heart of Porsche. Further information on themes and ticket sales will be announced in due course.
During the four-day event, fans of all ages will not only get to experience exciting racing action with vintage and contemporary Porsche race cars on track, but also be able to see many rare Porsche vehicles, enjoy new vehicle reveals, Esports, fan zones, and take part in opportunities to meet and interact with drivers as they share their exciting racing experiences. Rennsport Reunion will also offer a host of other off-track activities.
“California and Porsche are a dream pairing, and the Monterey Peninsula is an ideal spot to bring the two together for an unforgettable weekend with so much happening both on and off the track” said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America Inc. “Rennsport Reunion is for everyone – we’re creating an experience that’s special, whether you’re or a long-time enthusiast or are new to Porsche and are learning about our cars for the first time. Rennsport Seven is going to be bigger and more exciting than ever and yet at its core it’s the people that sets it apart – all are welcome, and I can’t wait to share our plans in the coming months.”
(Courtesy of WeatherTech Raceway)
DeFrancesco becomes first INDYCAR racer paid in Ethereum with Bitbuy
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Mobil 1 and Hoonigan Racing Division Announce Multi-year Partnership
Nearly a decade after partnering on a technology and marketing partnership that was the first of its kind in the industry, Hoonigan and Mobil 1™ have reunited to help celebrate the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand’s 50th anniversary leading into 2024. The two brands will hit the track for the first time at this year’s 100th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb through a unique, collaborative entry imagined by the Hoonigan Racing Division, fielded by BBi Autosport, and protected by Mobil 1 technology.
Be it trackside or roadside, the partnership will bring lovers of the open road behind the scenes as the Hoonigan Racing Division captures the road less traveled en route to the 2024 anniversary date. Extending beyond content, fans will have access to limited-edition collaborative merchandise exclusively available through Hoonigan’s innovative e-commerce platform, along with opportunities for followers of the @thehoonigans and @mobil1racing channels to secure their spot as part of some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. All this access will come through a mission that will see Mobil 1 named as the official motor oil of both Hoonigan Racing Division and Hoonigan.
“Mobil 1 and Hoonigan will always have a special relationship,” said Brian Scotto, chief creative officer and co-founder of Hoonigan. “In 2011, before anyone knew what Hoonigan would go on to become, myself included, the Mobil 1 team gave us the pulpit to launch the brand to the masses at the SEMA show. Since then, Hoonigan has a taken on a life of its own, becoming not only the largest automotive audience for the under 40 crowd, but also becoming a term that identifies an entire genre in the space that caters to having fun in cars. We’ve continued to work adjacent with Mobil 1 on great projects like the Hot Wheels Legends Tour and even got the chance to be a part of Max Verstappen slaying tires in his Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula One car. It’s awesome to work with another brand that cares about cultivating car culture, so we are more than stoked to be working again officially with this program, and help, as we pass our 10th anniversary, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mobil 1 brand in 2024 with some new projects that build on our shared love of driving.”
The co-branded entry into this year’s historic centennial running of Pikes Peak Hill Climb will be no less momentous than when Louis Unser trusted Mobil™-branded products to help him conquer America’s Mountain in 1934. Building upon this heritage, a new vehicle, producing over 1,000 horsepower, fed by two turbochargers, and driven by an equally legendary driver of a new generation, Ken Block, will once again trust Mobil 1 technology to fight its way up to the 14,115-foot summit. With a nod to the past, and a wink towards the future, the vehicle will be named the Hoonipigasus. The name combining a spirit of motorsport legacy between two iconic marks: Porsche and the Mobil Pegasus.
“There’s a reason true innovation is often left to someone else, and in this case, we felt that someone else had to be us,” said Ryan Allen, automotive brands and partnerships manager for North America at ExxonMobil. “Our brand is turning 50 in a couple of years, and in that timeframe, it’s been the first to many feats - both on and off the track. But to truly celebrate how we got here, we wanted to do something that captured the spirit behind our love of driving, and our love of our fans who we see every week on the road while they’re grabbing a coffee, or hitting the race track. Usually those fans have a phone in their hands, and more often than not, they’re watching a Hoonigan video and hitting the skip ad button. By building on a movement towards content we helped kickoff with the Hoonigan team over a decade ago, we felt we could join our fans in their love of driving, rather than trying to sell them a bottle of Mobil 1 that they already trust more than any other motor oil brand.”
For more information on Hoonigan Racing Division, please visit HooniganRacing.com. For more information on Mobil 1, please grab a friend and hit the road.
New Safety Campaign Kicks Off to Curb Street Racing Following National Surge During Pandemic
Freeway Insurance, the largest auto insurance and personal lines distributor in the U.S., today announced the launch of a new public safety campaign on the dangers of street racing. In conjunction with NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez, the campaign kicked off with a video of Suárez warning against street racing.
As the first Mexican champion in NASCAR, Suárez recorded videos for the campaign appealing to drivers in both English and Spanish.
During the pandemic, reports of street racing surged across the country as fewer commuters were on highways and streets became less congested, making them more enticing - and dangerous - for street racing.
"A few minutes of fun can change your life forever," Suárez said. "The sad reality is that, most of the time, an innocent bystander pays the price."
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"I am very proud of Freeway Insurance and Daniel for launching this much needed campaign across the country," said Trackhouse Owner and Founder Justin Marks. "We all love racing. We live and breathe racing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But, there is a proper place for racing and it certainly isn't on the city streets. If you want to race, there are tracks in nearly every city in America where you can race safely."
Earlier this year, Freeway Insurance expanded its partnership with Suárez, serving as his primary sponsor for five events during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series. Freeway Insurance also has a national advertising campaign featuring Suárez, including the only Spanish-language commercials featuring a NASCAR driver.
"NASCAR fans associate Suárez and the Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro with speed, but we wanted to educate them that nothing is more important than safety when getting behind the wheel of a car," said Cesar Soriano, CEO of Confie. "Even if this campaign stops just one person from putting themselves and others in a dangerous street racing situation, it will have been a success."
To learn more about Freeway Insurance, visit freewayinsurance.com.
Halfway There and Anyone Can Still Win DPi Crown, We Swear
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Formula E race car and east London street artist collaboration launches 2022 London E-Prix ticket sales
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MANN-FILTER Mamba on the grid for the 50th anniversary of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring
The 24-hour race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the toughest endurance races, with over 200 teams taking part. The event attracts the crème de la crème of motorsport, and those who conquer the “Green Hell” can consider themselves among the best racing drivers in the world. In the 50th anniversary year, MANN-FILTER is once again taking on this great challenge and leaving nothing to chance in its bid to win the PRO/AM classification.
The legendary Nordschleife – a demanding 25.378 kilometers
Former Formula One driver Sir Jackie Stewart gave the track the nickname “Green Hell”, which is still used to this day – and it's certainly well deserved. The Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit on the Nürburgring combined are 25.378 kilometers long. A lap of the track takes a little over eight minutes. The racers have to give one hundred percent concentration if they want to master the 72 corners – Uphill, downhill, tight corners, long corners, fast stretches, and the famous Karussell. Then there are the freak weather conditions that you won't find at any other race track. Snow, rain, heat, hail – they've all happened here.
MANN-FILTER pins its hopes on a top-class driver quartet
To survive the legendary circuit, MANN-FILTER is leaving nothing to chance. The premium filter brand is also putting quality first when it comes to the team drivers, with Dominik Baumann (29, Germany), Patrick Assenheimer (30, Germany), Luca-Sandro Trefz (20, Germany), and Julien Apothéloz (21, Switzerland) sharing driving duties behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the iconic yellow and green MANN-FILTER livery.
Dominik Baumann is a Mercedes specialist. In recent years, the 29-year-old has competed in national and international racing series, finished runner-up in the ADAC GT Masters, and won countless podiums. “It will be my first race in the MANN-FILTER colors,” he says, clearly pleased about his new role. This will be his eighth start in the 24-hour classic.
His teammate is AMG performance driver Patrick Assenheimer. “I'm really looking forward to taking part in the 24-hour race for MANN-FILTER. It's one of the most amazing races in the world and an iconic track. The ultimate goal is to win the PRO-AM classification.” Assenheimer has already proven his credentials on the Nordschleife, and the Heilbronn native has been a fixture in the Nürburgring Endurance Series for several years.
Third in the lineup is talented young driver Luca Sandro Trefz. The 20-year-old has been part of the MANN-FILTER family for a long time. As a junior driver, he and his teammate Julien Apothéloz narrowly missed out on winning the ADAC GT4 Germany championship title in 2020 and only a year later was promoted to the ADAC GT Masters. “We've been working really hard in preparation for this race since last year,” he says confidently. “Obviously, I'm absolutely delighted that it's finally happening. I've driven this track in the MANN-FILTER colors before and I'm very proud to be representing the iconic yellow and green once again.”
Completing the quartet is Julien Apothéloz, who is determined to achieve a strong result. “I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the MANN-FILTER Mamba for the second 24-hour race of my career.”
One team, one goal: to handle the Nordschleife
MANN-FILTER and Landgraf Motorsport have become a well-established team since joining forces last year. The partnership in the ADAC GT Masters has been a success so far. For the 24-hour race, MANN-FILTER is once again relying on the expertise and experience of the successful racing team from Gensingen. Team principal Klaus Landgraf has a very personal connection to the racing classic: “The Nürburgring 24-hour race is one of the most famous races in the world. In the past I was able to get to know the “Green Hell” as a driver and experience its uniqueness firsthand.” As team principal, he uses his personal experience to support the team from the pits and the pit wall. “I'm very pleased that we are contesting this year's race with MANN-FILTER. Our car will certainly stand out in the field with its striking livery and is sure to be a fan favorite.”
24 hours of Mamba action
A lot of spectators are expected to attend on the 50th anniversary of the 24-hour race. MANN-FILTER will also be at the AMG Fan Base where there will be a Pit Stop Challenge, and will keep fans updated with exciting stories about events behind the scenes through its social media channels.
The 24-hour racing action will get underway at 4 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2022.
Christine GZ: "Every Athlete Should Have a Mental Trainer"
During Qualifying for the Season 2 opener in NEOM, Christine GZ suffered injuries from a serious crash on her debut for Veloce Racing. | |||
Looking back to the Desert X Prix in NEOM, how were you feeling at your first race with a new team?
When you knew you were injured and would need medical treatment, how did that affect you? “When the race was moved, I had more time to recover but the objective was the same. I never told my physio that my race was postponed so that they’d still let me train so much. Every day except Sundays, because they don't let me in. I was doing between five and six hours of rehab.” What treatment did you receive in your recovery, especially around your mental health? GZ: “I started having dreams about the accident happening over and over again. I talk about these things with our mental coach, and he helps me to understand what's going on and how we can take all this to make it positive. “My friends were impressed that I was actually talking about it. Normally I would be like oh everything is fine, which I think is what most athletes do. We hide the fact that we are not feeling good.” So, as part of your rehabilitation, you’ve been receiving neuro training. What exactly does that entail? GZ: “I have been working on that since last year and I think I feel that has been a great improvement for me. In neuro, he works with your fatigue, nerves, stress, reaction and all this together, he tries to bring it to another level. “Normally during my daily life, because it's so busy with training and racing and so on, he’s never gone too hard on me. You can’t start your day and feel already dead before going to training. What we’ve done now that I'm at home is to train at our maximum level so that you see the consequences of how you can train at that high performance and experience how that affects the rest of the day.” Breaking the stigmatism around mental health, would you recommend neuro training to other athletes? GZ: “Every athlete should have a mental trainer. People get a little bit scared when you say psychologist, but all this time has given me a chance to think and see how to get better in a different way. “We kind of drive away from this mental health story because we’re drivers and athletes, we are strong and put in 150% for everything we do. I think we have to see it in a different way. “It’s crazy because I thought okay, this is my limit. Then when I do neuro and I think that I can’t go over this and can’t do more, I see that my limit is actually so much higher.” It sounds like, despite the hardships you’ve been through, you’re going to come back stronger than ever before. GZ: My head right now is 100%. I’m ready to get back in the car. Maybe in another situation I wouldn’t be like that. But with all this help, I’m on it! I’m ready to get back and smash it in Sardinia.
Head to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k1QN_gDB7M to watch the full interview. |
"Max: The Dutch Master – The Unauthorised Biography of Max Verstappen," by André Hoogeboom, Now Available in the U.S.
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